Welcome to the Beacon Hill Park Eagles thread for the 2019/2020 season. This thread is dedicated to observations, photos, videos and discussion of the eagles who inhabit this nest in Beacon Hill Park, within the City of Victoria, BC. These eagles have been seen quite often perched atop the totem pole on the edge of the woodsy area of the park, near Dallas Rd. and Cook St. Over the years there have been several nests in other areas within the park but the eagles have been using the nest near the playground for many years. This past season the eagles produced two eaglets, but sadly they both died in the nest. Their bodies were removed by the authorities and sent to the ministry facility for necropsy. After several attempts to receive information from the ministry regarding the cause of the deaths, I have not obtained any information.

One of the BHP eagles has returned. S/He was sitting on the rocks off Holland Point about 9:10 today, Sept 30. S/He then flew low over the water toward the Breakwater. Maybe landed on the lamp standards at Ogden Point, a favourite perch, but I didn't see him/her land.

Calypso, thanks for posting the photo of the eagle at Ogden Point. I quite often see eagles perched there. I still don't know for sure if the eagles that perch there are from the Beacon Hill nest or the Saxe Pt. nest

Member since 21 June 2006Volunteer Nest Monitor for WiTS (Wildlife Tree Stewardship Program)If you find a new nest, please contact me so it can be added to the WiTS mapping program.

At ten o'clock this morning I saw a bald eagle fly east just off Holland Point. At few minutes later I saw two eagles flying just above the water, but not catching anything. I followed their direction and saw them both sitting on a rock offshore. I didn't have binoculars, but two other people confirmed they were bald eagles. This is the first time I have seen both eagles together since they returned.

Calypso thanks for your report and photo Great to know both eagles have been seen in the area

I was at the park this afternoon. We saw an eagle flying in and thought it was going to land near the nest but it kept on going. We wandered over to see if it was on the totem pole but we didn't see it again. We thought it might have gone to Clover Point but we didn't have time to go there.

Member since 21 June 2006Volunteer Nest Monitor for WiTS (Wildlife Tree Stewardship Program)If you find a new nest, please contact me so it can be added to the WiTS mapping program.

I saw an adult eagle today just after 12 noon. I was driving north on Douglas at Simcoe, admiring the double rainbow, when a mature eagle flew south along the edge of BHP. No time for a photo but it was low enough to see great detail. Perhaps that was the same one you saw, sassyk.

This morning I saw an adult bald eagle sitting on the rocks at Holland Point.

Others said there had been two eagles there, and it sort of looks like another pair of legs but no white head.
The eagle was there for half an hour, and perhaps longer.
Some people with sharp eyes saw a breakfast fish and the resident otters as well. I was just happy I had my phone and could get this blurry and hyper-edited picture.

The nest looked like part of it had fallen down and my friend and I both thought it looked very different than the last time we saw it. It almost looked like the nest had been moved to another branch on the nest tree It was late in the afternoon and the sun was low in the sky.

Member since 21 June 2006Volunteer Nest Monitor for WiTS (Wildlife Tree Stewardship Program)If you find a new nest, please contact me so it can be added to the WiTS mapping program.

Unfortunately I didn’t carry my phone on this morning’s dog walk.
A large adult bald eagle was sitting on a high log right off Holland Point Park. She was there from 9:45 to 10:15 at least. A few people noticed and one took a photo.
I assumed it was a female from the size. She had a full white head that actually formed a cape on her shoulders. There appeared to be one white feather in the middle of her breast. Sassyk, do you recognize her from this description?

Calypso Thanks for your report I don't recall seeing a white feather in the middle of either of the Beacon Hill eagles' chest. It very well could have been one of them and it could also have been one from the Saxe Pt. Park nest

Member since 21 June 2006Volunteer Nest Monitor for WiTS (Wildlife Tree Stewardship Program)If you find a new nest, please contact me so it can be added to the WiTS mapping program.

I am just back to posting my observations of the nest above the playground. I can see an adult in the nest consistently and at other times it is presumably hunkered down. What is the timing of egg laying and hatching here?
I am not sure what happened to the nest but it seems to be lower down after the wind storm a few weeks ago. Anyway it is being used.
Paul

Paul thanks for posting your observations. Yes, the nest definitely looks different. I am not sure what has happened to it but it is good news that the eagles are using it If one of the eagles is consistently in the nest that is a good sign that they probably are incubating eggs It isn't too early for eggs! I plan to go to the park tomorrow, weather permitting

Member since 21 June 2006Volunteer Nest Monitor for WiTS (Wildlife Tree Stewardship Program)If you find a new nest, please contact me so it can be added to the WiTS mapping program.

Thanks for the info. I heard that the old next was knocked down during a wind storm a couple of months ago. I have been checking its old spot a couple of times a week but haven't seen any sign of a nest or eagles. When you say "above the playground" are you referring to the old location or somewhere new? I will check again today and look around a bit more rather than being fixated on the last location.

Sorry for the delay in replying.
I mean last year's location (2018/2019). The nest seems to have shifted or is perhaps more visible due to a loss of surrounding branches.
It was swaying a lot in last weekend's winds but is still there and there is an adult sitting there right now.
Paul

Simon Pedicab and PGully thanks so much for posting your observations.

I just realized I hadn't posted my observations and photos from my last visit to the park on March 6th.

The old nest has fallen and there were many sticks on the ground underneath the nest tree. A new nest has definitely been built either in the adjacent tree or another branch of the same tree. It looks very small so obviously the eagles haven't had much time to build it up. I plan to go to the park tomorrow and will take a distance photo of the nest tree for comparison.

There was an eagle in the nest when I arrived on March 6th but before I could get my camera focused on the nest the eagle flew out. An eagle came back into the nest a few minutes later and I saw the 2nd one soaring overhead. I thought it was going to land in the nest tree but it flew over the trees and out of sight. I managed to get a couple of pics of the one that came into the nest.

Member since 21 June 2006Volunteer Nest Monitor for WiTS (Wildlife Tree Stewardship Program)If you find a new nest, please contact me so it can be added to the WiTS mapping program.

Good afternoon, everyone! I have just learned that we do not have the hard drives we need to record our cams as we approach little chick time - and we do not have the funds necessary to buy them.

These are the high resolution drives that are connected directly to the cams at the site, making it possible to record high quality videos of events at the nests - and we usually have them up and running before the eggs are laid. As you know, we already have eggs at three of our four nests, and they are likely any day now at the fourth nest - so time is of the essence.

Our tech person Ken is estimating that it will cost about $7000 to buy the high quality, high capacity drives needed for our 9 cams, and while we are keeping up with our regular monthly expenses, we don't have the extra money needed to buy and install the hard drives.

I know this is a hard time financially for many of us, with many businesses closed - but it may also be a time when some of us are staying home and watching the eagles after cancelling planned trips or dinners out - and I'd like to ask those who can to contribute towards these hard drives.

I went to the park yesterday but did not see or hear the eagles. After wandering around and taking a few photos of the nest, I decided to wander back to my vehicle. Just as I got there I looked up and saw an eagle flying overhead, towards the nest tree area. Having parked my vehicle on the opposite side of the park I decided to drive around to the other side and spotted an adult perched beside the nest. I managed to discover a better vantage point to view this new nest; standing in the roadway

Member since 21 June 2006Volunteer Nest Monitor for WiTS (Wildlife Tree Stewardship Program)If you find a new nest, please contact me so it can be added to the WiTS mapping program.